Vandals topple, break statue at Helias

Vandals topple, break statue at Helias

The statue of Mary was toppled overnight from its perch in the prayer/meditation garden at Helias Catholic High School. The garden area is dedicated to the memory of Helias fan Leon Vanderfeltz.

Photo by
Julie Smith

Officials at Helias High School hope the public will be able to help them find who destroyed a statue on school grounds.

Stan Oschner, dean of students, said vandals wrecked the statue of Jesus and Mary on the Helias campus between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.

The metal statue was located west of the school buildings and was put in area where longtime Helias supporter Leon Vanderfeltz had landscaped before his passing last year.

Oschner said Vanderfeltz put in bushes and flowers, but the highlight was this statue which was donated by the Christian Brothers in Glencoe.

After Leon died, the area was turned into a memorial for him and his wife.

Oschner said this was a heavy statue, and it appeared someone got behind it and pushed it off its pedestal. It fell onto the concrete sidewalk, and the head broke off.

"Repairing it would cost at least $1,000," he said. "We're just hoping we find who was stupid enough to do this."

Oschner also said this is the second act of vandalism at Helias in the past couple of weeks.

In the first incident, someone got onto the roof of Rackers Fieldhouse and then hung over the side to spray paint a number of things, including a cross with marks through it, on the side of the building.

School officials ask for anyone with information about these crimes to contact the Jefferson City Police Department at 634-6400 or the Helias school office at 635-6139.